After enjoying a leisurely breakfast at the Peak Edge Hotel we checked out saying goodbye to the friendly staff who had looked after us during our stay. With our luggage packed in the car we left the hotel at 10.30 a.m. and drove the short distance to Matlock Farm Park.
This family oriented park is an ideal place to visit for a trip out into the countryside and offers an opportunity to get up close to a variety of friendly animals. Standard adult admission is £12.95 but do check their website for details of family tickets and special offers.
It had been raining before we arrived but thankfully it stopped just as we were walking towards the entrance kiosk. When purchasing tickets it’s a good idea to buy some grass nuts to feed to the animals as they are only £1 a bag and we found that having the food readily available made the experience of visiting the farm park so much more interesting.
Just inside the entrance there was a notice board displaying the day’s activities with timings of when specific events were taking place such as small animal handling sessions, wallaby encounters, meerkat talks, etc. I took a photo of it on my phone so we could refer to it so that we didn’t miss anything.
Despite the recent wet weather it wasn’t at all muddy walking around the park as concrete paths had been laid which were kept clean. The park covers quite a large area but with wide paths and no steps, the entire site is pram and wheelchair friendly.
To keep young children amused in between viewing the animals they can enjoy using the superb play facilities in the Enchanted Hamlet outdoor play area and have fun on the UK’s largest Jumping Pillow. There’s also an indoor Rainforest Play Centre which is part adventure playground and part cafe so parents can enjoy a cup of coffee whilst at the same time keeping an eye on their children.
We spent ages wandering around the park stopping to feed the friendly animals in their enclosures. Most of the animals can be hand fed and there is no danger of any of them biting your hands off.
We just needed to place a little food on the palm of our hands and hold it flat close to the animals who then gently took it from us. Beside each enclosure are sanitising stations to enable visitors to clean their hands after feeding.
As well as being able to feed the animals it was good to be able to learn about them too. Attached to each enclosure was a board containing useful facts on each species from animal classification, physical features, growth, lifespan, gestation period and natural habitat.
I adored seeing all the rabbits and guinea pigs in the small animal enclosure. At certain times of day some of these fluffy little animals are brought outdoors and children are invited to sit with a bunny on their laps and enjoy a stroke and a cuddle.
In one corner of the park pony rides were proving popular and in the next field other children were having lessons at the park’s own riding school which is run by qualified instructors. Whilst we were there, we watched some children gaining confidence over small fences and others setting off for a pony trekking trip. Please note that riding lessons and pony trekking need to be pre-arranged in advance with the centre.
During our visit we fed alpacas, ponies, horses, sheep, goats and llamas as well as viewing meerkats, highland cattle, pigs and donkeys. When we arrived at the meerkat enclosure there was only one outside with the others sensibly keeping warm in their heated pen but after waiting a few minutes the rest of the family popped out and paused for a photo.
A memorable activity was to be able to take both a llama and a sheep for a walk. I couldn’t believe how receptive the animals were and I adored my little walk with them. At allocated times, children can take these animals for a short walk and as a double lead is fitted to the animal’s collar, the handler is in full control for added safety.
After feeding the animals we were beginning to feel a little hungry ourselves so we popped into the farm park’s restaurant for some lunch. When I discovered that the special of the day was steak pie and chips I couldn’t resist it and soon after ordering our food was brought to the table. Lunch tasted delicious and was just perfect comfort food for a winter’s day. Alongside reasonably priced main dishes, a range of snacks are also available.
On returning to the car I couldn’t believe that we’d spent over four hours at the park as the time had flown by with so much for us to see and do.
Before setting off for home we drove into the centre of Chesterfield for a look around as apart from visiting the Northern Tea Merchants on the edge of town at the start of our trip, we hadn’t yet visited Derbyshire’s largest town. The best known landmark is its Crooked Spire Church. I’d only glimpsed it before from a train window so it was a treat to see it close up. The spire rises to a height of 228ft and leans 9’6″ from its true centre. The spire is quite safe though and not likely to topple over anytime soon. The church was closed at the time of our visit with tours up its spire only taking place during the summer months so I now need to return later in the year to experience this.
Our short walk through the town took us to the main square where large markets take place three times a week, and then alongside some beautiful Tudor buildings before we returned to the car for our journey home. I liked the appearance of Chesterfield and along with visiting its church, will enjoy spending more time in the town in the future.
This concluded our short break in Derbyshire and even in mid-winter we’d found lots of lovely activities to enjoy ranging from tea tasting to visiting a pottery, a brewery and a farm park.
During our visit we were guests of both Visit Chesterfield and Visit Peak District and Derbyshire and as always all views and opinions are entirely my own.
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